Athlete of the Month

All of us who work out here at Mission CrossFit SA train hard. We are all on our own journey in pursuit of a higher level of fitness, health and ultimately, life. It is not an easy journey, but it’s worth it. It requires hard work, sweat, discipline, and perseverance. The journey is filled with challenges, obstacles, and sometimes-even setbacks. And although every person’s road is unique, it is not a solo endeavor. We are in the pursuit of fitness together. Like a team, when a person is knocked down, the group responds by picking them up. Equally as important, when someone succeeds, their accomplishments are enjoyed and celebrated by the whole. To that end, every month, one person will be recognized for their outstanding achievements in fitness, whether they are in or out of the box.

This page is dedicated to that individual who portrays what CrossFit is at Mission CrossFit SA. It is someone who pushes hard, never gives up and wants to accomplish something each day they step foot inside our gym. They are chosen by their peers and lead by example. The athlete doesn’t necessarily lift the most amount of weight, or win every WOD, but instead they have passion and desire for what their individual goal is. Work hard, everyone is always paying attention, and you could be next!

Congratulations to Bryan Sethney for being selected as November’s athlete of the month. Some of you may have not had the opportunity to have met Bryan due to the fact that he is a staple of the noon class only. Bryan has put in tremendous amount of work since first stepping in the door back in 2015. You can always find him encouraging his fellow athletes as well as putting in extra work to improve his weaknesses. For those reasons and many more is why Bryan is deserving of athlete of the month.

Started CrossFit– October 2015

Favorite WOD– Helen

Least favorite WOD– KALSU

Favorite lift– Clean

Least favorite lift– Snatch

Story– My CrossFit story probably begins like many others. Life was busy; between work, getting married, moving back home to San Antonio and having 2 children the time working out became less frequent and my schedule became more inflexible. I wasn’t inactive but I thought that frequent golf, yard work and coaching my kids youth sports made me an active guy. This pattern lasted about 10 years. I think not being “unhealthy” or at least not in an obvious way made me believe I was “healthy” or at least not that far away from it. Sometime in my late thirties, the reality of 40 started to knock on my door. That knocking became louder when on a family trip to Colorado, I was surprised at how winded I felt unpacking a car and carrying suitcases up two flights of stairs to our cabin. That was a big deal, it should have been easy. I’m at high noon in life, I needed to do something and not keep putting it off. A month or so passed and frustrated that I still hadn’t done anything I impulsively packed a gym bag and strolled into Mission. Truthfully, I had very little idea of what to expect at CrossFit. I knew people that did it, I was also interested because of my two Brother-in-laws who were into CrossFit and I thought… “We’ll lift weights, we’ll run, we’ll circuit train maybe, it will be great”. Oh boy, I was wrong and it was much harder than I expected. A huge reality check for not just my strength and endurance but I realized how incredibly inflexible my body had become. Those first workouts I failed at almost everything (really everything); It was humbling to say the least. If it wasn’t for the positive “company culture” of the coaches and members, I wouldn’t have lasted two weeks. We developed a plan, we scaled, we improved and continue to improve every week. The enthusiasm the coaches bring every day sets the tone and it made a huge difference for me. Consistency counts so much in CrossFit, repetition (not just in the programming but in actually attending) and over time things started to change in a big way. The hard work the coaches put in at gym, behind the scenes programming, investing in equipment and taking care of the facility does not go unnoticed. All of these things are why I have been successful in the progress made for my personal fitness goals. I am not a CrossFit competitor, I don’t come every day but it has made a huge difference in my strength, flexibility and overall health. Improved mobility, less pain in my lower back, better stress management, better diet choices, and better sleep are all unexpected extras I have found along this journey. Thank you coaches for thinking of me this month and thank you to all the members that have shown me the ropes and push me along each and every class.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Congratulations to Sarah Septien for being selected as October’s Athlete of the Month. Sarah has shown a great amount of growth since first stepping in the doors of Mission. She is usually crushing the WOD’s during the zero dark-thirty class (5am). If you do get an opportunity to WOD with her, pray it is not a running WOD! You can always find her after class working on extra stuff to help her get better. For those reasons and many more is why Sarah is deserving of Athlete of the Month.

Story: My story? Crossfit is my story. Crossfit has become my way of life. It is where I met my husband, it is where I met lifetime friends, It is what dictates my schedule, what time I go to bed, my macros, my activities, what I talk about during the day, the jokes I tell, what I search for online, and that is just for starters.

Ironically though, it was not always like this.

Even though I have always participated in sports and competed in them, from swimming to dancing to soccer to tennis, I never really used to like lifting weights, specially while in High school and College where I focused on tennis.

Tennis for many years was my sole priority. It was the reason why my family and I moved from Cancun, Mexico to Texas. After a lot of training and hard work, I ended up playing competitive College Tennis for SLU in MO. Unfortunately, during my college career, I suffered a couple of serious injuries that required surgical treatment, so after graduating I decided I wanted to finally take some time off to focus on other things.

To my surprise, something felt off. I soon realized that “the grass was definitely not greener on the other side.” Not exercising made me feel somewhat “empty”, like something was missing.

I had always had the camaraderie of a team, the pressure of competition, the endorphins of an elevated heart rate, the muscle soreness, the burning of blood rushing through your veins. Now all I had were the aches and pains of not doing anything, so I decided I had to do something about it.

I joined some climbing, yoga and acrobatic classes as they seemed fun and challenging but unfortunately, they only seemed to captured my attention for a brief period of time because something was missing. Yes, they were fun and challenging, but hey didn’t have the “it” factor.

It was not until I came across CrossFit that I found what I was looking for. CrossFit combined competition, hard work, and camaraderie which is what I was used to and craved. Even though lifting weights had never been my thing, doing so gave me a sense of empowerment, of invincibility, of achievement, and it also gave me an avenue to set never-ending goals of becoming better, faster, stronger, which ultimately made me fall deeply in love.

That being said, the biggest catalyst to my CrossFit career has been joining Mission CrossFit. The combination of knowledgeable and caring coaches with the friendly yet competitive “WODmates” have made me grow so much this past year and a half, even more that I ever thought possible. I joined Mission with the hope of continuing to improve my CrossFit career, but it has done so much more than that and I am very grateful for it!

Congratulations to Edgar Rodriguez for being selected as September 2018 Athlete of the Month. Edgar has put in a tremendous mount of work since first stepping foot into Mission. He came in looking for a competitive edge he was missing. Within a few months of doing normal class, he was able to transition to Mission’s Sport program. Doing Coach Drew nutrition program he has been able to attain his goal weight that he thought was unattainable. For those reasons and many more is why Edgar is deserving of Athlete of the Month. Also for those of you who have not got a “cut” by Edgar you are missing out!

Started CrossFit: May 2014

Favorite WOD: Isabel

Least favorite WOD: Fran

Favorite Lift: Snatches

Least favorite lift: Thrusters

My story: Where do I start, in 2014 I was in a transition in my life. I was at a point where I didn’t know if I wanted to continue to be a barber. I had invested so much time into my craft and towards my clientele. During the years I was learning my craft I can honestly say I had let myself go. I had no self control over the things I was doing, I was eating horrible everyday to the point that I had reach my heaviest weight of 251. I started to notice I was tired all the time and feeling sluggish during the day. As time went on during the year I made a move that would changed my life til this very day. I moved to another barbershop to where I’m still at till this very day. One day I was talking to the owner of the barbershop and he was telling me he was doing CrossFit at a local box and if I wanted to try it out. So I went not knowing what to expect, keep in mind I had worked out in years. I had to puke from the get go, I felt pretty disappointed and so discouraged I really told myself if I wanted to change my life around for my own benefit I would have to stick with it. So as time went on I noticed I was feeling better and my progression was coming along. I started to fall in love with CrossFit I loved the challenge mentally and physically. During that time CrossFit helped me get over some personal things I had going in my life as well. I started to notice I wanted something different and I wanted a change from the place I was going to. After dropping in at other boxes around the city I still wasn’t happy. So one day this very special person in my life? ( I meet along this journey) told me about Mission CrossFit. From the very moment I walked in I knew Mission was so different. So after dropping in I told myself I wanted to drop in a few more times before I made a decision so my drop in lead to dropping in for the month. After having a conversation with Drew after the month was over, the rest is history! During my time here at Mission I’ve met so many amazing people now some of these guys are not just clients but great friends as well. The community here is so different from every other box, everyone has played a very important role during my time here. I consider Mission my 2nd home away from home, I couldn’t have ask for a better place to be at then here at Mission. I’m so grateful for everyone here this place is special as I continue to grow more passionate about this sport. I want to be able to do this as long as I can. My health has grown more serious over the years and I can honestly say I’m in the best shape of my life today then I ever been. All I can say is thank you to everyone who has played a role in guiding me, pushing me when I wanted to stop, cheering me on when I was dying mid WOD and giving me advice to be better thank you!

Congratulations to Becky Fritz for being selected as August 2018 Athlete of the Month. You can normally find Becky at the 5am class ( usually by the fan ) . Over the past 2 years Becky has made tremendous strides and gains in all her lifts. Even a minor knee issue hasn’t kept her away, she still comes in and puts in the work with specific modifications. She has been a great addition to our Mission family. For those reasons and many more is why Becky is deserving of Athlete of the Month.

Started CrossFit-October 2016

Favorite WOD– Murph

Least favorite WOD-Bear

Favorite lift-Deadlift

Least favorite lift-Snatches

Story–Before Mission I spent time as a competitive swimmer, in the pool 5-6 days a week. That changed when I joined the Army and running, push-ups, sit-ups, and ruck marches became my fitness modalities. I came to lovetaking to the pavement to alleviate my frustrations. Over time running took a toll on my knees and once I left the military I focused on lower intensity activities. I loved yoga and also found myself dabbling in spin, kickboxing, Zumba,step, and even hula-hooping (go ahead and laugh). No matter which activity, I wasn’t really changing anything and I started to lose interest in something I loved – Fitness.

I heard about CrossFit when my husband dropped into MCF for a couple months in 2012 and I remember seeing measurable changes in his fitness. Still, I rolled my eyes for YEARS thinking it wasn’t for me. Climb ropes, throw barbells over my head, stand on my head, push sleds in an empty parking lot? No thanks. I trudged on in my own, “I think I’m fit” world.

In the summer of 2016 I completed an on ramp at Iron Major CrossFit(Leavenworth, Kansas) mostly because I wanted to spend some extra time with my husband and we could work out together. We ended up moving to San Antonio a few weeks later. I wasn’t sold on CrossFit yet and in the first few weeks I was nervous, frustrated, and almost ready to throw in the towel. The programming,the training, and my inexperience proved to be quite challenging. I told myself: “I will give it three months and if I still feel this frustrated, I’m quitting”. I watched videos of the CrossFit gal/guy night after night and asked a million questions in class. The 3 month commitment I made was all I needed.

The 5 am class quickly became a welcoming place where I could challenge myself and grow. If I needed help, the coaches were there to guide me. The ‘5am-ers’ would push me, encourage me, and even help the coaches sneak extra plates on my bar when I wasn’t looking. Now the 5am class is my ‘home’. Their support everyday and the amazing coaches and gym members in every class make every day in the gym a challenge, where I can’t fail, I can only get stronger, faster, and healthier in a safe and welcoming environment. I still find myself scaling and modifying some workouts because of chronic knee issues but I’ve never felt as strong and healthy as I do now.

Every day is a fitness challenge. It never plateaus, I can always push for one more rep, one more plate, or a better time. I know I am better today than when I started, and I’ll be better tomorrow after the WOD. I want my daughter to learn from me. I want her to know that no matter what age or circumstance, step outside your comfort zone. You will be amazed at what you have the potential to accomplish. I don’t think I’ll be in the open for a couple years yet, but I know I will push myself to the limit and with the people around me in class driving me even further.

I love being a part of Mission CrossFit and getting fit with and around the other members. Yourmotivation and support is priceless as I drive toward my fitness goals of being healthy and happy while I improve my fitness without getting hurt. Oh, and the socializing is pretty cool too. I cherish the friendship, support, and motivation that I receive every time I walk in the door. Your smiles, high-fives, sweaty hugs, and words of affirmation are what make our gym successful. I am proud to be Athlete of the Month, thank you.

Congratulations to Joseph Lapthorne for being selected as the July 2018 Athlete of the Month. Joseph has had an amazing fitness journey since arriving at Mission, it includes losing 30lbs!!! He is matching running speeds from back in his 20’s. Don’t we all wish we got stronger and faster with age? Well Joseph is putting in the work to accomplish it, hitting PR’s left and right. For those reasons and many more is why Joseph is deserving of Athlete of the month.

Started CrossFit: May 2017

Favorite WOD: Kelly

Least favorite WOD: Annie

Favorite lift: Deadlifts

Least favorite lift: Thrusters

Story: My CrossFit story started after a rough patch in my life. In January of 2017 I dislocated my knee and had a slight tear on my patella tendon causing me to take time away from my fitness goals. During the 4 months I spent with my knee brace on and not working out much I decided to change up my life in a few ways and needed a new physical challenge. I decided that CrossFit would be a good challenge after watching the “Fittest on Earth” documentary on Netflix and started looking for a box to go to. I went to a few box’s before I made it to Mission CrossFit and was quickly approached by Coach Meagan asking me what I was doing at Mission and what I was looking for from CrossFit. I was confident that I would catch on pretty quick due to my time spent weightlifting over the past 8 years, but I was very, very wrong. My first session I tried to do a full snatch (never done that before) with a blue bar and fell on my butt, and it didn’t get any easier from there and I still have a long way to go, but over the past year I have done some pretty amazing things. I have lost 30 pounds since I joined, my running speed matches what I could do when I was 20 (10 years ago), my PRs have shot up and I’ve never been this flexible in my life.

I know there are a lot of amazing athletes out there to choose from and highlight, so getting this honor means a lot to me. Making the choice to be at Mission was at first a choice from the appearance of the gym and the warm welcome I got from the staff, the choice to stay is because of the community and programming. From the coaches knowing what we’re capable of and pushing us to new PRs and better times, to the community giving each other encouragement (or crap) to finish a workout or just give some high-fives after a rough workout, its the people that make this such a great time and the best time I’ve ever had working out. I have made some great friends (shout to the 6:30 class (best thirty)), met my amazing girlfriend, and pushed myself to a new physical limit thanks to being at Mission and I can’t imagine not making this choice when I did. Thank you everyone for making this place what it is and thank you for letting me share some of my story since being at Mission.

Congratulations to Jill Teixeira for being selected as the June 2018 Athlete of the Month. Jill has been a staple of the 8:30 am for the past 2 years. She always comes in with a great smile on her face, but don’t be fooled she will smoke you in the WOD. She has set some new PR’s and made some great friends. Its saddens Mission to say goodbye to Jill as she moves on to the next duty station and new chapter in her life. We hope to see you again sooner than later. For those reasons and many more is why Jill is deserving of Athlete of the month.

Started CrossFit- June 2011

Favorite WOD-I love chippers; the longer the workout the better.

Least favorite WOD-Diane

Favorite lift-Overhead Squats & Power Cleans

Least favorite lift-deadlifts

Story– I love to workout. In high school I was on the cross country, basketball and softball teams. In college, I played basketball and softball. I loved the comradery and competition. After college, the competition and community went away and my workouts turned into solo endeavors. Once I started having kids, it just got harder to find time to workout. My “me” time became 5am workouts running or doing the latest beach body workouts. I got bored with my workouts and had a hard time meeting others who liked to exercise. In 2011, my twin sister introduced to me CrossFit. I could barely raise my arms to wash my hair, but immediately fell in love with it. I love the community. I love the challenge. I love the competition. I have met some great people at Mission CrossFit. This box has welcomed me into the area and made the two years my family was stationed here a blessing. We leave this month. I will miss all of you guys!

Congratulations to Dan Cornell for being selected as the May 2018 Athlete of the Month. Dan has been committed to Mission CrossFit since 2012!! He is by far fitter now than he ever imagined. Dan put in his work at the 5am class, if you say ” Hey i’ve never seen Dan at 5am class ” its because he gets to sleep in 30 more minutes and come in at 5:30 am to Mission Strength class. Over the past 2 years in the strength class he has increased his back squat from 300 to 390, his deadlift from 315 to 380 and his bench from 235 to 285. Amazing gains!!! For those reasons and many more is why Dan is deserving of Athlete of the month.

Started CrossFit- August 2012Favorite WOD- CindyLeast favorite WOD- Anything that combines running with heavy squats or cleans.Favorite lift- Squats!Least favorite lift- Sleds or the assault bike. Both of those are like bad girlfriends – they’ll take everything you give and still demand more.

Story- Somewhere in mid-2012 I agreed to sign up for a Tough Mudder with a bunch of my high school buddies. For whatever reason I thought it was some sort of 5k trail run where you jump over a hay bale and run through a mud puddle at the end. When I actually looked at the website (10-12 mile course, 26 obstacles, tons of mud, electric shocks…) I realized I had made a horrible mistake. I had always done some running and light lifting, but at that point in my life I had let myself get pretty out of shape. When I looked in the mirror six weeks out from the event I had to say “this guy ain’t going to make it.”But – while I will disappoint my wife, and I will make my mom sad, I refuse to look like a pansy in front of my high school buddies so I knew I needed to do something drastic.
I had a friend who had lost a bunch of weight on a low carb diet so I stripped all the sugar and most of the carbs out of my diet to try and lean out before the event. And I had a friend in the Secret Service who had started doing CrossFit and got huge seemingly overnight, so I Googled around to find the closest CrossFit gym and I was tremendously lucky to find Mission CrossFit. I did an intro class and did my Elements work and was hooked. I loved the variation in the workouts and really enjoyed how the workouts mixed lifting – squats, deadlifts, cleans – with bodyweight exercises, running, and so on. I survived the Tough Mudder and kept coming to CrossFit because I was having fun and getting fitter. Since then I have used CrossFit as the basis for my training for other events –Tough Mudders, a marathon, a half-ironman, and a bunch of GoRuck stuff.
About two years ago my wife started doing some powerlifting with her trainer and she was making great strides in her deadlift. And I was really proud of her. But I also noticed that if I didn’t step up my game her deadlift was going to outpace mine so I reached out to Coach Mike about working out with the Strength Crew. Lately that’s where I’ve been spending most of my time, and I’ve made a lot of gains and had a great time doing it.
I travel for work and that gives me the opportunity to drop in at CrossFit gyms all over the place. I’ve had positive experiences pretty much everywhere, but it has also shown me how exceptional Mission CrossFit is. The facility is top-notch. The coaching is fantastic. The community couldn’t be better. We are all really fortunate.If there is one thing I have learned from CrossFit and Strength Crew it is that if you set goals, show up, listen to your coaches, and do the work then you make progress. I’m grateful to Coach Mike and all the coaches, the Strength Crew, the 5am folks, and everybody in the Mission CrossFit community. I’m in way better shape than I ever would have been if I hadn’t found Mission CrossFit, and I’ve met amazing people as well.

Congratulations to Lina Leal for being selected for April’s Athlete of the Month. Lina has shown tremendous work ethic since she started at Mission 18 months ago. Although a veteran of the CrossFit lifestyle, she is still seeking ways to improve, even if it means going to the local high school track to knock out some laps and burpees. She recently improved her “Grace” PR by 2:17 !! For those reasons and many more is why Lina is deserving of Athlete of the Month.

Story- I’ve always struggled with my weight. Since I was little I had trouble keeping it in check. After I had my kids, with a combination of having a job where I sat all day, I found myself weighing 200lbs at the age of 32. I was the kind of person that always had a smile on my face but felt terrible on the inside. One day I just decided to do something about it. I joined a commercial gym and started eating better and lost 40 lbs on my own. I reached a plateau that I couldn’t break and I heard of CrossFit but was scared to death to try it. At that time there were only like 5 gyms in San Antonio but was lucky enough that there was one down the street from my work and some of my co-workers and I decided to try it. Body Armor CrossFit on that first day put us through the ringer and I felt I was going to die but I was hooked instantly. I lost the last 25 lbs and reached my goal weight. I moved to Mission CrossFit I would say about a year and half ago and have felt at home ever since. The coaches are awesome and the community is very supportive. Shout out to the 5:30AM class. (DA BEST LOL) I love the group class environment. We push each other and cheer each other on. I also enjoy the Sunday class with Coach Rocha because it’s always a great workout and his music selection rocks ? I hope to be doing CrossFit for as long as I can and I want to thank everyone at Mission for being supportive and always going above and beyond to get the best out of you. You guys are awesome.

Congratulations to Lane Naugher for being selected as the March 2018 Athlete of the Month. Since Lane arrived back in August of 2016, he has been the silent assassin. Coming in and crushing every WOD we put in front of him, except when we throw handstand push-ups. Lane works as an orthopedic surgeon so he knows the human body and the great benefits it gets from CrossFit. For those reasons and many more is why Lane is deserving of Athlete of the month.

Started CrossFit: February 2015

Favorite WOD: 16.4/17.4 and Murph

Least Favorite WOD: Mary or anything with pistols/HSPUs

Favorite Lift: Squat

Least Favorite Lift: Snatch/Overhead squat

Story:

I was the typical smallish town Texas high school athlete, playing every sport I was allowed to and my fitness was simply a passive byproduct of no true offseason. I transitioned to college where intramural sports and trying to mimic my high school lifting routine in the rec center kept me in decent shape. After graduation, I survived only a single year teaching middle school before starting medical school. It was during the next decade of medical/surgical training that a poor diet and lack of exercise/self discipline took its toll. I was overweight and had back pain which would only improve when I was active but still couldn’t find the time (discipline) to consistently make it to the gym or knock out some p90x videos. A fact not lost on Junior as he gently pointed out that he didn’t recognize me from old instagram photos from that period of time.

CrossFit was first introduced to me by a few college friends that had just begun. I suspected I would love it if I would just show up to give it a go but always convinced myself that it was too expensive, inconvenient, dangerous, etc to actually go and try. My wife and mother in law knew I might never make the effort to get started and paid for my first month’s trial as a birthday gift in 2015. The coaches at Crossfit Richardson in North Dallas worked with me through my on ramp program. I finished my first baseline workout in around 9 minutes and felt like my lungs were going to explode. I then spent the next 2-3 months in nearly constant soreness. I could not do pull ups, toes to bar, anything overhead or finish most WODs by the time cutoff. I had never failed at anything so consistently but was hooked. I stuck with it and after 6 months was starting to finish workouts Rx. I am now 3 years in and continue to slowly hit new PRs and “firsts” – kipping handstand pushups and muscle ups most recently.

I’ve now been a member at 3 boxes after moves between Texas and North Carolina and have dropped in at many other boxes around the country. We are lucky to have the coaches and community at Mission. Thanks for welcoming me and my family. I jump around classes quite frequently due to varied work schedule and have enjoyed meeting people at all different times. I look forward to the upcoming Open and to many months and years in the future.

Brief side note, I work as an orthopedic surgeon here in San Antonio and spend most of my time fixing knees, hips and shoulders. I believe Crossfit is safe and wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t believe it – but listen to the coaches! They know how to protect us from ourselves. I love what I do at work and love talking shop. Feel free to ask questions if needed at the gym. I truly don’t mind answering or giving advice if I can.

Congratulations to Kayla Reisner for being selected as the February 2018 Athlete of the Month. Kayla’s first taste of CrossFit happened when she did a 6 week summer teen class with Coach Junior. Since then she has been a regular at the 5:30am class. She has over come her exercise induced asthma and has grown out of her shell she first had when she started. She is also lucky enough to have her CrossFit classes count as her P. E. credit. For those reasons and many more is why Kayla is deserving of Athlete of the month.

Started CrossFit: My first ever class was back in the summer of 2016 when I signed up for the
teen class with Junior. Then I restarted in June of 2017 in the regular class.Favorite WOD: Diane. Although I can’t do HSPU yet, I love deadlifts. Workouts with
built in rest are awesome.Least Favorite WOD: Helen. Running. No.Favorite Lift: Either deadlift, back squat, or squat clean.Least Favorite Lift: Anything overheadStory: I was surprised to hear that I got athlete of the month. I, of course, felt noticed and loved which
is great for someone’s ego but I also felt like there are others that definitely deserve it more.
Besides that, I’m going to be grateful that I was even in the coaches thoughts.
I started CrossFit in the teen class with Junior at the age of thirteen. I went in thinking I would
hate CrossFit and had major anxiety about working out with all of these strangers that already
seemed in shape. Man, was I wrong. Although the first day was a bust for me (asthma attack), I
came back the next day with a new attitude, wanting to work again. I always had issues with my
physical appearance but once I started CrossFit, I started feeling amazing about myself. My
anxiety and stress levels lessened due to being apart of something that I ended up enjoying.
Once the teen class ended, I joined regular class for a few weeks before school started and I
had to stop CrossFit.

The beginning of summer of 2017 is when I started CrossFit again in the regular class. Since I
had first stopped doing CrossFit, I wanted to come back. I restarted at Mission in the 05:30
class and have been working out in that class since. The dedication and friendship shared
between all of us in our small class is why I wake up at 04:30, not to mention our love of working
out. CrossFit has not only helped me with my body image, but has also helped me with my eating
habits. I started seeing my body as it should be seen: natural and beautiful. I learned so much
about what I was eating and how to control things better. My dad, Troy, and my step-mom,
Crystal, also had a huge part in me changing myself. They encourage me everyday and
motivate me to continue with my good eating habits so thank you. I also want to thank Junior for
being my first coach and Lacey for being my coach almost every morning among the other
coaches that have…coached…me.

Before Mission, the extent of my working out went as far as P.E. at school. Working out in the
beginning was difficult for me but I feel like I’ve seen a lot improvement in myself. I read some of
the other stories of previous Athletes of the Month and I thought about how they sounded so
adult. I then realised that I’m only going to be fifteen in February and that I have so much time to
go. I still have so much time to improve and I’m ready to make more improvements on myself
not only physically, but mentally. Thank you, one more time, for choosing me to be February’s
Athlete of the Month